The united American : a magazine of good citizenchip., June 01, 1925, Image 1

Department of Adult Education N.E. A. Issue
20 CENTS S«
A MAGAZINE OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP
INCLUDING FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE
T he I nterstate B ulletin
on
A dult E ducation
OF ALBANY, NEW YORK
THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE REPUBLIC
DEPENDS ON ADULT EDUCATION
B y
CALVIN COOLIDGE
P resident of the U nited S tates of A merica
(Excerpt from the President’s Address to the ,N. E. A., July, 1924)
«JT IS not alone the youth of the land which needs and
seeks education, but we have a large adult population
requiring assistance in this direction. Our last census showed
nearly fourteen million foreign-bom white persons residing
among us, made up largely of those beyond school age, many of
whom nevertheless need the opportunity to learn to read and
write the English language, that they may come into more
direct contact with the ideals and standards of our life, political
and social. There are likewise over three million native illiter­
ates. When it is remembered that ignorance is the most
fruitful source of poverty, vice and crime, it is easy to realize
the necessity for removing what is a menace, not only to our
social well-being, but to the very existence of the Republic. A
failure to meet this obligation registers a serious and inexcus­
able defect in our Government. Such a condition not only
works to a national disadvantage, but directly contradicts all
our assertions regarding human rights. One of the chief
rights of an American citizen is the right to an education. The
opportunity to secure it must not only be provided, but if
necessary made compulsory.”
JUNE, 1925
PORTLAND, OREGON